Japan Manufacturing PMI Revised Higher

2026-05-01 00:55 By Farida Husna 1 min. read

The S&P Global Japan Manufacturing PMI rose to 55.1 in April 2026, exceeding the flash estimate of 54.9 and accelerating from 51.6 in March.

This was the highest reading since January 2022, with output growing the most since February 2014 amid a solid rise in new orders, the quickest in over two years, as the war in the Middle East prompted customers to frontload purchases to avoid potential supply disruptions and rising costs.

Employment increased at the second-fastest pace since early 2022.

Yet supply strains deepened: backlogs surged at the sharpest pace since 2014, while delivery times lengthened most since 2011.

Purchasing activity stayed firm, though it eased from March.

On prices, input costs jumped at the fastest rate since Oct. 2022 due to higher raw material, energy, and transport expenses, prompting selling prices to rise at the quickest pace since late 2022.

Finally, confidence weakened to its second-lowest since June 2020 amid geopolitical risks and broader uncertainty.



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Japan Manufacturing PMI Revised Higher
The S&P Global Japan Manufacturing PMI rose to 55.1 in April 2026, exceeding the flash estimate of 54.9 and accelerating from 51.6 in March. This was the highest reading since January 2022, with output growing the most since February 2014 amid a solid rise in new orders, the quickest in over two years, as the war in the Middle East prompted customers to frontload purchases to avoid potential supply disruptions and rising costs. Employment increased at the second-fastest pace since early 2022. Yet supply strains deepened: backlogs surged at the sharpest pace since 2014, while delivery times lengthened most since 2011. Purchasing activity stayed firm, though it eased from March. On prices, input costs jumped at the fastest rate since Oct. 2022 due to higher raw material, energy, and transport expenses, prompting selling prices to rise at the quickest pace since late 2022. Finally, confidence weakened to its second-lowest since June 2020 amid geopolitical risks and broader uncertainty.
2026-05-01
Japan Manufacturing Growth Hits Over 4-Year High
The S&P Global Japan Manufacturing PMI increased to 54.9 in April 2026 from March’s 51.6, surpassing market forecasts of 51.2, preliminary estimates showed. The latest figure marked the fourth straight month of expansion in factory activity and the fastest growth since January 2022. Output grew at the fastest pace since February 2014, indicating that manufacturers increased production amid concerns over future supply shortages stemming from the war in the Middle East. Meanwhile, new orders rose modestly, though the pace of increase strengthened slightly from March, with export orders rising faster. As a result, firms raised employment at a faster pace. Meanwhile, delivery times rose at the fastest pace in nearly four years. On prices, input cost inflation accelerated due to the war in the Middle East and ongoing supply chain strain. Lastly, business sentiment deteriorated amid uncertainty about the impact of the war in the Middle East.
2026-04-23
Japan Manufacturing PMI Revised Upward
The S&P Global Japan Manufacturing PMI was revised higher to 51.6 in March 2026 from a preliminary estimate of 51.4. However, the latest reading fell from a near four-year high of 53.0 in the previous month, as both output and new orders eased from the solid pace seen in February, which in turn contributed to a softer rise in staff numbers. Meanwhile, employment rose further, due to efforts to expand capacity and address long-standing labour shortages. However, the rate of job creation was the softest seen in 2026 to date. On prices, input cost inflation accelerated to the highest level since August 2024, boosted by higher raw material and energy prices. Higher labour costs and a weaker yen exchange rate also lifted prices. As a result, firms raised selling prices at the fastest pace since June 2024. Finally, business sentiment weakened from February's recent high, amid caution around growth projections due to the war in the Middle East.
2026-04-01